Blogging About Blogging
- Posted by Beth on November 28th, 2005 filed in Blogs, Blogs Suck, Blogtards, General
First off, I can’t stand blogging about blogging. Everyone’s got their own opinions about any given element of blogging, and it’s a waste of time trying to resolve those differences. You may not agree with my opinions, and that’s fine. Just don’t go freaking out about it; IT’S JUST A BLOG.
I used to like blogs and being a part of the blog world, because most bloggers are much better-informed than the general public, and I can discuss things with others who actually know what I’m talking about. To some extent, I still do, but I guess I’ve become disillusioned by it after only a year and a half. Some decidedly negative thoughts on recent blog buzz:
Why does everyone care so much about what someone else is doing? Why has it become such a target? I’m not in it, and I know my blogging style isn’t in the “mainstream” of what they do. So what? Why do so many people sound so bitter that they aren’t included? I mean really, first (some many) people bitch that they weren’t invited, then they rip on the whole idea. If it sucks, why do you even want to be a part of it? I just don’t get it–but then I’ve never understood the point in complaining about exclusion and then talking about how bad the “exclusive” (whatever) entity is. I also don’t get why some people have started ripping on individual bloggers in PJM, when they clearly used to like them. Now you don’t, because of PJM? WTF?
PJM bloggers, you’re not off the hook, either. SOME of you are acting like jackasses, calling all of your critics “jealous.” Please. There are, believe it or not, some things that warrant criticism, such as the non-existent mission statement or roadmap–IOW, the details. Just because some people question this or the “OSM” mess, doesn’t mean they’re jealous. Get over yourselves.
And that’s all I have to say about Pajamas Media. I wish them well and hope they can have some beneficial impact on the media or the internet or whatever it is they’re trying to do.
I was sick of this subject about two minutes after I got the first breathless, hysterical email about N.Z. Bear not counting empty “trackback parties” in the ecosystem. Don’t like it? Write something worth linking to. Some of us used to do open trackbacks because we’re lazy or didn’t have time to write anything else, but it’s patently obvious others had different goals. Quit trying to deny it–you look foolish. Nobody’s buying it, in some of your cases. I’m amused by the “it’s not fair to smaller blogs” whine, where the whiners are missing the obvious point that 99.9% of bloggers have gotten their places in the ecosystem due to having link-worthy posts or by actually linking relevant content to another blogger’s post. Is it fair that you, Mr. Trackback Party, have catapulted to the upper echelons of the ecosystem above them? I vote NO, emphatically so.
I’m only even writing about this because I need to vent. Otherwise, I couldn’t care less. It’s just more damn whining–and worse, anyone whining about “it’s not fair” makes me want to vomit. Life isn’t fair. Deal with it.
Stuff like this is what prompted the “Bad Blog Awards” post, which has some interesting comments, to say the least–although shockingly fewer than I would expect from bloggers and commenters. (Chicken?) Basically, blogging about blogging, blog-fights (to include asinine “de-linkings”) and bloggers trying to claw their way to the top of the ant hill by being a pain in the ass totally disgust me. In many ways, I’m embarrassed to be thought of as a “blogger.” If someone were to ask me In Real Life if I were a blogger, I’d hate to answer the question.
Why? Because of a few reasons:
- Most blogs just suck. (I don’t exclude myself from this.)
- Most bloggers take themselves WAY too seriously.
- Many bloggers thing they’re going to be famous by blogging. HA! Ask your mom, “who is Glenn Reynolds?” Or better yet, ask who Markos Moulitsas Zúniga (or even just plain “Kos”) is–he’s got the most traffic, after all. You could even ask a lot of people who Michelle Malkin is and get a blank stare (which is a shame, really, but it’s true).
- Too many bloggers have ridiculously thin skin. In fact, they far outnumber those who don’t. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the damn
kitchenblogosphere. Nobody likes a self-pitying crybaby or someone who constantly bickers with other bloggers or commenters. - This is a huge gripe of mine: too many damn extremists. Even the so-called “moderates” or “centrists” are extremists. It’s such a JOKE. And worse, as the Commissar has noted before, the blogosphere rewards extremism rather than rational thought and logical thoughts that reflect a grasp of reality. Maybe it doesn’t bother you, but I personally think pure ideologues of all stripes are a bunch of clowns that need to get out and experience reality rather than the “what ifs” that exist in their daydreams. Snap out of it! And what’s going to happen with this point? I’ll be called “wishy-washy,” a “RINO,” or worse. Heh.
OK, I’m dragging this out too much because I’ve already written something like this before. The whole purpose of this is to basically explain some of the reasons for the “Bad Blog Awards” and the accompanying bad attitude I have about the blogosphere. So now that I’ve blown off a little steam, maybe I can get back into this thing.
F.E.T.E.
AcademicElephant says:
Hear, hear. And amen. A well needed “cyber” vs. “reality” check…
a4g says:
But, but… I’ve given up interaction with the outside world to devote myself to blogging…
Oh, and is there anything more uninteresting than the whole Pajamas Media fight thing? I’ve actually discovered that disinterest has a strong physical sensation, and I get a swooning wave of it whenever PM/OSM/PM is mentioned.
Now, if only Nick or Jessica could start dating Roger Simon, my apathy would be complete.
Ogre says:
Did you say something? I’m sorry, I wasn’t listening, I was blogging myself… ;)
Hardcore Conservative says:
If you’re so unhappy with the blogging community maybe you should do something else with your domain name
The Right Nation says:
Monday Afternoon Round-Up
Mark Steyn, on Chicago Sun-Times writes about Hollywood’s anti-americanism (Whoopi Goldberg included). Commentary at Powerline, The American Thinker, Edd Driscoll, Ann Althouse, Dinocrat, BrothersJudd Blog. A few weeks ago, on the City Journal, Brian…
MacStansbury says:
good stuff, Beth.
I fell into that trap. got out.
I’ve been clean and sober for, um…two days now.
Six Meat Buffet » Monday Link Madness says:
[...] Beth at MVRWC chimed in with a message to this type of vacant link whore (In her own legendary style…): I was sick of this subject about two minutes after I got the first breathless, hysterical email about N.Z. Bear not counting empty “trackback parties” in the ecosystem. Don’t like it? Write something worth linking to. Some of us used to do open trackbacks because we’re lazy or didn’t have time to write anything else, but it’s patently obvious others had different goals. Quit trying to deny it–you look foolish. Nobody’s buying it, in some of your cases. I’m amused by the “it’s not fair to smaller blogs” whine, where the whiners are missing the obvious point that 99.9% of bloggers have gotten their places in the ecosystem due to having link-worthy posts or by actually linking relevant content to another blogger’s post. Is it fair that you, Mr. Trackback Party, have catapulted to the upper echelons of the ecosystem above them? I vote NO, emphatically so. [...]
Greta (Hooah Wife) says:
Guilty of poking fun at OSM because I wasn’t blogrolled - all in fun though. As for the TTLB - I have a new graphic you might want to include on your sidebar. Blogging is fun and I will do it for fun - end of sentence. I studies the TTLB & ecosystem for a while and figured out how to beat them - but that would be a full time stinking job. I don’t take myself seriously and hope nobody else does! I love reading you piss and moan as much as the next person. Keep blogging babe! You are you - stay that way!:razz:
E.Webscapes - Blog Design Blog says:
Weblog Award Nominees - Good Luck
Earlier today, I was browsing through the categories for Nominees of the Weblog Awards for 2005 and noticed several of our clients were nominated in many different categories this year. The finalists aren’t announced, yet. From the Weblog A…
Vinnie says:
I just left a comment at Preston’s.
We need a system to track public delinkings.
Beth says:
No shi’ite, we certainly do need that. Maybe an auto-search on Google for the word “de*link” or something, although I think that only works with Google News.
I’m going to go medieval and shi’ite on the next moron who pulls that delinking crap. Medieval, I said.
Overtaken by Events says:
A Lovin’ Spoonful of Reality
Beth has written one of the best posts I’ve ever read about what’s wrong with the blogosphere. Talking about the latest kerfluffle about the Ecosystem and open trackbacks, she says:
don surber says:
What is this “link” thing?
Tom says:
RINO.
Then again, I am a communist so there you go.
Jeff G says:
“blog fights…totally disgust me.”
YOU HEAR THAT BLOG FIGHTERS? YOU BEEN SERVED!
Bill from INDC says:
Uh, sorry Beth …
“Basically, blogging about blogging, blog-fights (to include asinine “de-linkings”) and bloggers trying to claw their way to the top of the ant hill by being a pain in the ass totally disgust me.”
But considering this post and your new dedicated contest to highlight shi’itety blogs and antagonize people, well, there’s enough situational irony in that statement to choke a horse.
Beth says:
:sigh:
Sorry you’re taking personally what OTHERS said in the Bad Blogs comments, but I assure you, your bitterness is wasted on me. (And I’m not saying “I’m sorry” I wrote anything, I’m saying “I’m sorry you’re offended.”)
I think you might consider how few others have taken either of these posts personally or angrily.
Regardless, if I cared about appearing oblivious to the “irony,” I wouldn’t have posted it. I meant what I said in the post, whether it appears ironic or not. I note that you’ve chosen TWO posts out of a couple thousand that would indicate otherwise (i.e., not sniping at other bloggers, not highlighting shi’itety blogs, never a “public delinking,” etc.). So basically, whatever.
Beth says:
Then again, I am a communist so there you go.
And don’t think I wasn’t thinking about that EXACT episode when I wrote that, Tom. :wink:
Beth (the “liberal”)
MY Vast Right Wing Conspiracy » Blog Archive » Are You An Elite Blogger? says:
[...] Blogging About Blogging [...]
The Wide Awake Cafe » Blog Archive » I’m a Blogger of One says:
[...] Beth at My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy blogs about the latest blogging controversy. She makes some good points. Some in the blogosphere are upset about being excluded in the Open Source Media venture. (Now I guess it is back to its original version, Pajamas Media.) [...]